HCMC - Many cities and provinces in the country have denied entry to foreign tourists due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ben Tre Province government announced that it has refused entry to foreign tourists since 6 p.m. on March 15 until further notice.

Foreign tourists have also been refused entry to the Mekong Delta province of An Giang since March 15. The province has also refused to admit vehicles carrying foreign nationals that stop at local bus stations and seaports.

Relic sites, museums and other attractions in Thua Thien-Hue Province have closed down since 5 p.m. on March 15.

Other provinces that have denied entry to foreign tourists include Dong Thap and Tien Giang.

“There’s nothing harder than operating tours at a time like this,” a tour guide told the Saigon Times.

He said the tour staff have to take care of the tourists and change schedules as many attractions have shut down.

Many homestay tours have been canceled because the homeowners are refusing foreign visitors due to the fast-spreading coronavirus, which causes the disease called Covid-19.

“Many tourists agree with the rescheduled tours but some are confused and upset,” he said.

The director of a travel company in HCMC noted that her company is still arranging some tours for foreign tourists, but it has had to remove homestay and local culture exploration programs.

Since the central Government has denied entry to tourists who come from or have traveled through the United Kingdom, the Schengen zone and Northern Ireland over the past 14 days, many travel companies have suspended tours for foreign tourists.